Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 April 1917 — THREE PROJECTS IN PANAMA [ARTICLE]

THREE PROJECTS IN PANAMA

Part of Scheme for Defense of Canal Under Consideration —First Is Military Railroad. Three important railroad projects as part of a defense scheme for the Panama canal have .been under consideration for some time and present conditions are likely to hasten their completion. First of these is the building of a military railroad connecting de Toro with the ruined fort of San Lorenzo at the mouth of the Chagres river. The latter point, which figured prominently in the history of the isthmus under Spunish rule, commands the entrance of the Chagres river which admits of easy approach by water to the Gatun locks. As a fortified position it would also have to be reckoned with by any military expedition directed at the cities of Colon or Panama. The primary object in the construction of the road is the rapid transportation of troops and military equipment from Fort Sherman to San Lorenzo in case hostilities were attempted by way of the Chagres. The road will be six to eight miles long and will be of fivefoot gauge, the standard in use on the Panama railroad. The road will be part of an elaborate defense scheme uud will cost from $750,000 to SBOO,000.

Two other roads are projected which are not primarily,of military character, but would be useful in case of hostilities. The Panama national assembly has a bill under consideration providing for the construction of a railroad in the province of Chiriqui extending from the town of La Conception through Divala to a point in the bay known as Charco Azul to be determined on later. The line will be a branch of the Chiriqui railroad now in 'Opera tlitn.'' It IS expected to add greatly in the industrial development of Chiriqui, one «f the richest und most fertile sections of the country. The assembly is also considering the construction by the United States and Punama jointly of a series of ruilroads and highwuys connecting the cities of Punama and Colon with points in the interior. Such roads, it is believed, would help the growth of the cities as well as the development of the interior. Under the provisions of a proposed bill Panama is to pay 50 per cent of the cost of construction uud the executive is authorized to treat with the United States government through a special mission.